The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-22

ever seen me before. have been detec-
tive for years, but that circumstance has
always been uppermost in my mind when |
had case where the identity of a prisoner
was to be sworn to. | have always eau
toned my witnesses not to testify unless
satisfied beyond all doubt. Ny caution has
several times operated to let bad man
escape the clutches of the law, but that was
better than to swear an innocent mans life
or liberty away.
The other instance occurred in Tennessee
just before the breaking out of the war.
bought of the inventor the State right OF
Tennessee of a certain patent, out Of which
| expected to realize a large fortune.
secured as my agent in the State an Ohio
man named James Miller / had known
him for MANY wears, and would have staked
my life ON his honesty and veracity. We
visited Chat anooga, Knoxville, Nashville
and other towns, and finally parted with
him at Memphis. He was to manufacture
and sell through dealers. What happened
to him, however, occurred in the northern
part of the State near GAINESVILLE He had
been dealing with somebody in that town,
and then hired a horse and buggy to go out
seven or eight miles into the country to look
at horse with a view of buying. As he
was leaving the hotel buyer of horses and
mules, named Charles Sweet, asked to go
with him, and offered to pay half the eX-
pense of the rig. The offer was accepted,
and the two drove away,
Several incidents occurred during that
ride. They were not mile out of Clarks-
vile when the horse SHE'D to one side and
almost upset the buggy, and Sweet, in saw
ing himself from falling out, suddenly
elevated his elbow and hit Miller on the
nose, causing it to bleed. Several drops
stained his shirt bosom, and others fell upon
the bu rgy cushion. A pile further on the
horse baked at hill. and Miller descended
from the buggy and coaxed him until he
started on. In starting he threw Miller
down, and wheel of the buggy passed over
the small of his back He did not mind the
injury then, and brushed the mud and dirt
from his clothes and followed on to the top
of the hill and climbed in. Half a mile
from the farm Miller had started to visit,
the two men caught sight of some fine
mules in field Sweet decided to stop and
see the owner, while Miller drove on alone.
These little everyday occurrences are for
gotten in an hour unless remembered
against prisoner Miller saw the horse he
went out TO look at, partly bargalned for
him, and then drove back 1t was noticed
that his clothes were stained with mud, and
that there was blood on his shirt but his
explanation was satisfactory. 1t was
further noticed that he was pale-faced and
nervous. As a matter of fact he had been
quite seriously hurt but, man like, did not
want to own it WheA he drove back
Sweet was not to be seen, and feeling that
he must take care of his injuries as soon as
possible, Miller drove into Clarksville and
sent the rig back by negro for Sweet. The
latter was not to be found. No one had
seen him since he left the buggy at the road
side. There was no excitement until
next day, and then, when a search failed
to turn up the missing man or furnish
a clue as to his fate, Miller, who was in
bed, was placed under arrest charged
with his murder When | got down there
from Boston the case against him had been
worked up until no one doubted his guilt,
and there were threats of lynchlng. My
first move somewhat staggered them, how
ever. proceeded to show that Miller had
arrived at the horse owners alone, and that
he had not passed that point. | then found
two negro wood-choppers ana white man
who had seen the two men together IN the
buggy only half a mile from where Sweet
got out. If murder there was, it had taken
place in that half-mile ride, and the body
must be concealed near the roadside. A
search had been made of the whole distance,
but now proceeded TO a closer investiga-
ton Miller was a slim, slght-built man,
weighing l2S pounds. Sweet was a large,
fieshy man, weighing 1856 pounds. 1t was,
therefore, impossible thai Miller could drag
the body any distance.
We went over the ground foot by foot,
taking in breadth Of a mile each side of
the highway, AMI examining every barn,
strawstack, thicket, fence corner, and de
preston. Not the slightest trace of the
body could be found This raised doubt
of Miller's guilt, but more than that was
needed to clear him. 1t was strange, every
body said, why Sweet had not gone to the
house to see the owner of the mules; why
he had not been seen on the road or in the
fields; why, if alive, he had not shown up
since 1t was evident that there had been
foul play Miller was the last person seen
in his company His disordered clothing.
the blood spots, his pallor and mental anX-
iety, why, when went ell over it i'll my own
mind it almost seemed to me as if he was
guilty. | say almost, for could not quite
believe it of him While the prosecu
ton could not produce the body as a
proof of the murder, they had plenty of cir
cumstantial evidence, and Miller was held
to the higher court, with everybody believ
ing in MS guilt The affair had as curious
a turn just before his trial as novelist
could imagine. | was in a small town fifty
miles from GAINESVILLE. and stepped into
grocery kept by an old woman, to get a
plug of tobacco, when her son, a mountain
eer, came in from his place. thirteen miles
away. The two exchanged salutations in
nv presence, and the mother asked:
Has the stranger gone YETI!
No" replied the son.
"And do you think he is daft"
'''Pears that way"
Chow is his hurt."
''Better, | guess.
Then their conversation turned into other
channels, and went out. In ten minutes
was back again. An influence which | can
not explain any moro than | could resist
sent me back to ask;
You were talking about a stranger.
Have you some unknown man at your
housen'
Eyes, sir. He came six or eight weeks
ago. think he has been hurt and has lost
his mind have told him he must go, but
he cries and begs 60 stay, and he has paid
us very well for his keep"
He described Sweet to a dot, and three
hours later had identified the mau who
was supposed to have been murdered by
Miller. In three days | had MIN at Clarks-
Vile. That knocked the murder theory in
the head of course, but the prosecution then
declared Miller had assaulted MIN with
intent to kill and rob. A medical examina-
ton showed that Sweet had been struck on
the head and his brain injured. | took him
TO Nashville put him i'll the care of a surgeon,
and in four weeks he had his mind back
The very first words he uttered on coming
to were:
"And you can stop for me as you come
back"
-Four months time had gone out of his
,,,;n1 apJ ba baoan inst yyhera he had laft